A bullock team at work near Dunedin. - Otago Witness,
9.9.1908.
An important stage in the duplication of the
Dunedin-to-Mosgiel railway line will be marked to-morrow
morning, when there will be placed in position the central
girder of one of the four steel bridges which will span the
various roadways between Dunedin and Caversham.
The bridge of which the first portion is to be placed in
position to-morrow morning is the one over the Anderson's Bay
road crossing.
The total length of this girder will be 153ft, comprised of
four spans - a central one of 93ft, and weighing 36 tons, two
side spans each measuring 24ft and weighing 27 tons each, and
a fourth span measuring 12ft.
The weight of the whole structure will be 182 tons.
The contractors for the construction of the bridges are
Messrs John McGregor and Co., Otago Foundry, and it is
anticipated that another 10 days will see this first, and
largest, bridge completed.
Other bridges are being constructed by this firm for the
Kensington, Neville street, and Glen road crossings.
• The first annual meeting of the Drainage Board Employees'
Sick and Provident Fund was held at the works office,
Kensington, last evening.
This fund furnishes a striking example of what thrift and
co-operation among a few workmen may accomplish.
Started as it was 12 months ago with absolutely no assets and
a membership of 25, the fund has paid out 25 11s in sick
allowances, and starts a second year, after doing this, with
a credit balance of 7 16s.
This has all been done by a weekly contribution of 6d from
each workman, without any outside help.
• A rare opportunity of seeing in a living condition the
unique creature, the tuatara, is at present available to the
public.
The three living specimens which the Government has granted
permission to Dr Benham to receive for transmission to the
University of Cambridge will be on exhibition at the Museum
during the next week or 10 days.
As no doubt most people are aware, this reptile is now only
found on a few of the islands off the North Island of New
Zealand, where they are very strictly preserved, though
formerly they appear to have been common on the mainland of
both islands. - ODT, 17.9.1908.
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